Date
May 8, 2018
Area
Sikatuna, Cebu
Companion
Elder Clegg
White People?!
Hello from the land of hot and humid! I hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to open up with something funny that happened yesterday:
While walking down the street, we passed this middle-aged white guy. It's super weird to see other white people in the Philippines, especially when you're in the heart of the city. As we passed him, he noticed us, let out this huge gasp, and exclaimed, "White guys?!" Thank you for vocalizing what has popped into my head every time I see someone white. I don't know how I'm going to do it when I get back home. If I yell, "Hey Joe!" to any of you when I come back home, please don't get offended.
Great news! Andrei is getting baptized this Saturday! This is super exciting, since it has been a little while since Sikatuna has had a baptism. Regardless, it is just amazing to see someone decide to make the covenant with God, and over the course of about 5 weeks, see everything about their live change, regardless of how young or old they are.
I know that this is kind of short, as not much happened this past week, but I would just like to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. During this past fast and testimony meeting, one of the temple missionaries came to our ward, and bore her testimony. She shared that even half-way around the world, entering this church building was like she was coming home. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can make it home. No matter where we are, we can feel that peace and love that Christ offers us through His spirit. My testimony of that promise has been strengthened, because I am far away from home, I'm in a foreign land, where white people are quite the oddity. But aren't we all? We're all strangers here, trying to make it back to our heavenly home, and the road back is Jesus Christ. As Elder Uchtdorf states, He will lift you on His shoulders, and carry you home. Just hold on. Let us all hold on until we reach the end. Kaya nato. Walay imposible pinaagi sa atong Manunubos ug Manluluwas, ni Jesu Kristo.
Much love,
Elder Maltby